Robustness of Zero Crossing Estimator

Zero crossing (ZC) statistic is the number of zero crossings observed in a time series. The expected value of the ZC specifies the first‐order autocorrelation of the processes. Hence, we can estimate the autocorrelation by using the ZC estimator. The asymptotic consistency and normality of the ZC estimator for scalar Gaussian processes are already discussed in 1980. In this article, first, we derive the joint asymptotic distribution of the ZC estimator for ellipsoidal processes. Next, we show the variance of the ZC estimator does not attain the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB). However, it is shown that the ZC estimator has robustness when the process is contaminated by an outlier. In contrast with this, we observe that the quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) attains the CRLB. However, we can see that QMLE is sensitive for the outlier.     

Accurate and efficient RTL power estimation based on power contour model

This paper proposes a new RTL power estimation method based on a power contour model. The model achieves accurate and efficient power estimation. The experimental results show that the maximum error is reduced by 56.19% and the RMS error is also reduced by 3.41% compared to the conventional table‐based RTL power estimation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 182(3): 48–56, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22340     

靠近振源处土对波传播和结构响应的影响

近源地振动的特点是垂直地面运动非常强烈,并且高频成分多。本文研究了土对从振源到土表面传播的波及结构响应的影响。     

Travel Time Reliability in Vehicle Routing and Scheduling with Time Windows

This paper presents calibration of the Vehicle Routing and scheduling Problems with Time Windows-Probabilistic (VRPTW-P) model which takes into account the uncertainty of travel times. Probe vehicle data of travel times were obtained from usual operation of pickup-delivery trucks in South Osaka area. The optimal solution of the VRPTW-P model resulted in reducing total cost, running times and CO₂, NOx and Particle Materials (PM) emissions compared with the usual operation. This is attributed to better routing of VRPTW-P to choose more reliable roads. Therefore, VRPTW-P can contribute to establish efficient and environmentally friendly delivery systems in urban area.     

Phase relationship on Mo-S system at high temperatures

Changing the partial pressure of sulfur Ps₂ at temperatures of 750° and 950°C, phase equilibria on the Mo-S system by solid-gas reaction were investigated. Hexagonal 2H-MoS₂ and monoclinic Mo₂S₃ phases were identified from the x-ray powder diffraction pattern. The 2H-MoS₂ had a slight homogeneity range, i.e. MoS_1.978 to MoS_2.0 at 950°C, MoS_1.983 to MoS_2.0 at 750°C. No remarkable variation of lattice parameters for the MoS₂ was observed. The composition of the Mo₂S₃ phase was not stoichiometric MoS_1.5 but MoS_1.457 at 950°C. At 750°C the composition of the Mo₂S₃ phase could not be determined since it was quite difficult to establish the equilibrium state between the gas and the condensed phases. This finding agreed well with the result of Morimoto and Kullerud.     

RAST: finding related documents based on triplet similarity

With the increasing amount of information available in recent years, searching for the desired content is becoming a challenging task. In this work, a tool for searching abstracts submitted to scientific conferences is introduced. It not only searches abstracts by the given keyword(s) but also displays abstracts related to a single or multiple selection. It also displays highly relevant abstracts together with possible keywords to help users refine their search. Analysis of the conditional similarity algorithm proposed here has shown that it does provide better output compared to ordinary cosine similarity, as well as the list of possible keywords reflects results of latent topic analysis. An interface for storing and sorting selected abstracts for future review and/or printing is also provided.     

Sensorless Position Control Using Feedforward Internal Force for Completely Restrained Parallel-Wire-Driven Systems

Generally, point-to-point control for a completely restrained (CR) parallel-wire-driven system requires a balancing internal force to prevent slackening of wires, along with a feedback term based on some displacement sensor. This paper specifically describes CR systems' internal force properties, then presents the possibility of motion convergence at a desired position when the internal force balancing at a position is given as sensorless feedforward input. Subsequently, we use the property of internal force positively for sensorless position control. This positioning method is applicable for low-cost manipulation, which does not require high accuracy, and for emergency positioning of systems when sensors malfunction.     

Crack propagation analysis in civil engineering structures

A system for crack propagation analysis based on the finite element method is shown. The system is easily applied to the investigation of crack propagation behavior due to fatigue in arbitrary structural members of, for example, steel bridges. Moreover, the user can estimate the residual life of the structure with respect to the fatigue-crack. This paper also includes new mesh generation methods for this purpose, and several numerical examples show the efficiency of the mesh generation and the analysis system.     

Finite volume method on the unstructured grid system

Applying the Voronoi diagram to the cell system for the finite volume method, a new method on the unstructured grid system is devised for the simulation of incompressible steady flow. In this method, the SIMPLE algorithm can be applied with little expansion. The turbulent flow around the two-dimensional vehicle model is simulated with the k-ε turbulence model by this method. Comparing the calculation result with another result obtained using the structured grid system and the experimental data, the new method is shown to be suitable for the simulation of complex flow fields.     

Aging and availability of binocular disparity and pictorial depth cues in 3D graphics contents

Some stereoblind observers do not perceive depth of 3D stimuli that depends on binocular disparity. These individuals, who have no disabilities, comprise over 5% of the general population. In addition, 17–30% of nonstereoblind young and young–middle people do not use disparity information in certain 3D environments, a phenomenon known as pseudo‐stereoblindness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aging and the proportion of pseudo‐stereoblindness in the general population. In an experiment, 134 nonstereoblind participants, ranging in age from 17 to 83 years, judged subjective depth of 3D stimuli containing binocular disparity and pictorial depth cues. Results showed that the proportion of pseudo‐stereoblindness among young (17–24 years old) and young–middle aged observers (25–39 years old) was 29%, in both cases. However, the proportion of pseudo‐stereoblind observers increased in older populations: 65% and 82% in the middle (40–54 years old) and senior (55–83 years old) age groups, respectively. These results suggest that a number of people, especially in elderly populations, have trouble perceiving depth from binocular disparity in 3D graphic contents despite their essential ability to use disparity information.